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Ball Man Guilty of Stealing $100K VA Benefits
ALEXANDRIA, La. – A federal jury delivered a guilty verdict against Tracy Marler, a 51-year-old Ball man, for stealing more than $100,000 in Veterans Affairs benefits from a deceased woman’s bank account.
Marler was found guilty of one count of theft of government property. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial, which took place on Monday and ended today with the jury deliberating for just 20 minutes.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that from February 25, 2008, until April 30, 2014, Marler withdrew $100,610.57 from a deceased woman’s account. The woman was receiving the benefits on behalf of her deceased husband, a U.S. armed forces veteran. Marler had a joint bank account with the woman. After she died in February 2008, he continued to receive her Veterans Affairs benefit payments to which he was not entitled.
Despite his friendship with the deceased woman, Marler provided care for her, which included running errands, managing finances, and maintaining her home. However, this care came at a great cost to the woman’s estate, as Marler’s actions resulted in the theft of a significant amount of money intended for her late husband.
Marler faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been set for March 17, 2017. The Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuting the case.
The guilty verdict in this case serves as a reminder that those who exploit the system for personal gain will be held accountable. The victims of this crime, including the deceased woman and her late husband, deserve justice, and we hope that this verdict brings them some sense of closure.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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